People of hills will not forgive Tamang: Bimal Gurung

The West Bengal government appointed Board of Administrators (BoA) of the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration (GTA) met for the first time yesterday under the chairmanship of Tamang.

The meeting had decided to carry out a special audit of GTA, that was headed by Gurung for last five years.

The indefinite shutdown in the hills over the demand for a separate state of Gorkhaland today entered its 104th day.

"The Gorkhas will not forgive Tamang for playing into the hands of the state government and betraying the aspirations of the people of the hills. He has compromised with the cause of Gorkhaland," Gurung said in a message.

He warned that the agitation will turn violent if the Centre does not convene a tripartite talk within next week.

"I will wait for one more week for the Centre to initiate talks. If it does not happen we will decide our next course of action and the agitation will turn violent," Gurung said.

Meanwhile, in view of normalcy returning to Darjeeling hills the state administration last night decided to lift the restrictions on use on internet services, which was imposed on June 18.

The internet ban was on in the hills for 100 days.

Several shops and markets in the hills opened during the day despite threats and intimidation by GJM activists.

Darjeeling district administration said that over 85 per cent of the shops in the hills opened.